Reborn as a Landlord-Chapter 636 - 327: Cause and Effect_2

If the main house stopped withholding from the family’s funds and Lady Gu mother and daughter-in-law brought out some of their private savings

If Lady Zhou were willing to bring out one or two pieces of the dowry saved for Lian Xiuxiu

And if...

Wouldn’t this family still be harmonious and happy?

"One by one, none of you understand, none of you make my life easier...," Old Master Lian felt a headache coming on, "We’ve not accumulated enough virtue, not enough virtue at all."

"Old man," Lady Zhou noticed Old Master Lian alternately puffing on his dry tobacco pipe, clenching his eyes shut in anger, and mumbling to himself; she started to speak, "I don’t have any money left, if Shouren asks for more, I’ve got nothing to give him. And Jizu, that ’One String of Coins,’ I just can’t produce it... Don’t even think about touching Xiuxiu’s belongings, seeing as our household is in this state, if you wipe her possessions clean, what could Xiuxiu put toward her marriage negotiations? She’s never lived a day in prosperity, we owe Xiuxiu... Xiuxiu isn’t just my daughter, if you, her father, can’t help her, could you really have the face to take from her?"

"I’ve said my piece here, even if the sky falls down, I won’t agree to this."

Lady Zhou’s expression was stern as she stared down Old Master Lian, indicating that she would not budge.

Old Master Lian said nothing.

"Greedy for wealth and miserly at heart, that eldest daughter-in-law and her mother-in-law, keeping their two chests full and never willing to contribute, always eyeballing the public’s share to keep for themselves... Erlang’s wife, like a star of death, a homewrecker, were it not for her, the household wouldn’t have so many troubles..." Lady Zhou continued to grind her teeth, bitterly complaining about everyone in the family except for herself, Lian Xiuxiu, and Old Master Lian.

Old Master Lian’s brow was tightly knitted, and he sighed incessantly.

"Why not ask Old Fourth for Jizu’s money? If he doesn’t have any, then it’s fine, but now that he has some, since he has separated from the family, has he ceased to bear the Lian surname? That shop of his has silver coins clinking and tinkling into it every day. Seeing the family so desperate for money, if he doesn’t lend a hand, isn’t he afraid of the village pointing at his spine?" Lady Zhou was negotiating with Old Master Lian, "Erlang’s little schemes are quite clear. If Old Fourth contributes this money, they won’t cause any more trouble."

"All this strife every day, anyone who might consider proposing marriage for our Xiuxiu would be scared to step foot into our house." When Lady Zhou reached this point, her face also showed a worried expression.

As for all other household matters, they were handled by Old Master Lian; Zhou had never worried. However, the marriage of Lian Xiuxiu was something she took to heart.

"The family refuses to contribute money, and you expect someone who’s separated from the family to contribute? I can’t bring myself to say it, and if word spreads, it wouldn’t be proper," Old Master Lian finally spoke.

"What’s so proper or improper about it? We aren’t forcing him. When Old Fourth comes, I’ll talk to him. It’s not much, just ’One String of Coins.’ I’ll handle it," Lady Zhou said, "We won’t ask him for any festival gifts or anything; just this ’One String of Coins.’

"That’s not the issue," Old Master Lian said.

"That settles it. Xiuxiu, go call your Fourth Brother over and say your father wants to see him," Lady Zhou told Lian Xiuxiu. The last Dragon Boat Festival, when Lian Shouxin brought over gifts, she was actually pleased; after all, he was her own flesh and blood. She had held sway over him for so many years, and Lian Shouxin was still afraid of her.

When she became angry and threw the pork onto the ground, she wasn’t showing disdain for the meat; she wanted to make it clear to Lian Shouxin not to think that sending a few gifts made him dutiful. She couldn’t show satisfaction, as that would lead Lian Shouxin to think that just sending these items in the future was enough to fulfill his duties toward her.

She needed Lian Shouxin to always feel guilty, indebted to her for her nurturing grace—that’s how she could keep a hold on and control Shouxin.

It was aggravating that Lian Manman came and took the meat away, then cast all blame onto her, and then Lady Zhang even dared to intimidate her with a cleaver. Fortunately, Shouxin still treated her the same afterwards, but Lady Zhang and the others were too cunning and would undoubtedly block Shouxin from sending her things in the future.

Let Shouxin provide the ’One String of Coins’ for now; they could deal with other matters gradually. If there’s one, there’ll be two.

......

In the West Wing Room, hearing Lian Xiuxiu calling Lian Shouxin to the Upper Room, the family was somewhat puzzled.

"I’ll be there shortly," Lian Shouxin hastened to reply as he stood up.

"What does your grandfather want with you?" Lady Zhang asked.

"I don’t know either. If it was something important, why didn’t he mention it earlier?" Lian Shouxin replied, somewhat puzzled.

"Father, if Grandpa and Grandma want to borrow money from you, you mustn’t agree," Lian Manman said directly after some thought.

"What if they say it’s just a loan, and there will be repayment? Is that not okay?" Lian Shouxin replied.

Indeed, Lian Shouxin was willing to lend money to the Upper Room to ease their burden. But seeing the infighting between Lian Shouren and Lian Shouyi’s families, he didn’t want to take the initiative. If Old Master Lian and Lady Zhou were to ask for a loan, Lian Shouxin might be willing to help.

"Father, when do people usually borrow money?" Lian Manman asked.

"When there’s no money at home and it’s absolutely necessary to use money, there’s no choice but to borrow. Otherwise, who would borrow? It’s not easy to stretch out a hand," Lian Shouxin explained.

"Father, do you think the Upper Room truly can’t come up with ’One String of Coins’?" Lian Manman pressed further, "Not to mention the rest, my eldest uncle’s family still has two chests of trousseau items. The other day, my grandmother opened one chest, and I saw it, too. They were all fine clothes, fine fabrics. If the chest my aunt was willing to open contained such things, could the one she refused to open possibly be worse?

"The items my grandmother collected, if she sells one or two pieces, that would be more than enough. If Jizu really does pass the Scholar exams and becomes a Graduate, whose son would be the Scholar, and who would be the Scholar’s wife? My eldest uncle and the others, clinging to their private savings without parting with a cent, are just expecting others to give. What is their intention?... When our family hadn’t separated, the money to buy my medicine even came from my mother pawned her hairpin."

"You can’t borrow this money; if you do, there will be no end to it," Lian Manman held onto Lian Shouxin’s sleeve, preventing him from leaving.

***......****

Submitting three updates tonight, asking for pink support, still asking for pink support. (To be continued. If you like this work, you are welcome to vote for it with recommendation tickets and monthly tickets at qidian.com, your support is my greatest motivation.)